Obama, the Internet and the Decline of Big Money and Big Media

OBAMA, THE INTERNET AND THE DECLINE OF BIG MONEY AND BIG MEDIA
[SOURCE: techPresident, AUTHOR: Micah Sifry]
[Commentary] If it were not for the Internet, and all the campaign- and voter-generated activism that it has enabled, Hillary Clinton would already be the Democratic Party's presumptive nominee, and Barack Obama or another reform-minded candidate would be trailing badly. Twenty-eight of the $32 million Sen Obama raised in January was raised online. The Obama campaign also seems to be using the Internet better to activate supporters in the field. There is a real difference in how each candidate and their base is situated in the online ecology. In addition to the backing of e-groups like MoveOn.org, Obama is rolling up personal endorsements from all kinds of tech/geek influentials: Danah Boyd, Larry Lessig, David Weinberger, Dave Winer, Ross Mayfield of Socialtext, Michael Arrington. The Internet effect is also on grass-roots mobilization, by the campaigns as they ask their supporters to take actions (click here to virtual phone bank, or to download a precinct walk list, or to host your own house party) AND by supporters acting on their own to make and share their own powerful messages of support. The old winnowing process, which was mainly about wooing big donors and winning news cycles, is no more. Obama seems to be carving a new path to the nomination, one that has gotten him to parity, and maybe even given him the edge going forward. If he wins the Democratic nomination, there will be all kinds of reasons why. But if that happens, let's hope everyone gives the Internet and all the campaign-driven and activist-driven organizing it has powered on his behalf a big share of the credit.
http://techpresident.com/blog/entry/21320/obama_the_internet_and_the_dec...